I was invited by Tuscany Now to visit Villa di Petroio near Florence with a group of fellow travel bloggers…lucky us.
Villa di Petroio is a 12th century property near the town of Rufina. The estate produces wine and olive oil and has several delightfully restored houses available for rent. The houses are surrounded by vineyards and have gorgeous views of the hills that circle the estate.
I had a little snoop inside because I knew you would want me too.
I absolutely love the kitchen downstairs. There is a much bigger one upstairs, but this one is the one I would use.
We were entertained by a wonderful group of musicians called Gli Amici Di’Chianti. The 4 performers wear traditional, early 20th century Florentine costumes. They sing “Stornello”, traditional improvised Tuscan verses and of course, there is audience participation. It was a lot of fun.
Lunch was delicious. We had bruschetta, porcini risotto, the best chinghiale (wild boar) I have ever eaten, rosemary potatoes, followed by the best tiramisu I have tried. Heavenly hot chocolate came a bit later.
The family dogs enjoyed the day as well and were on hand in case any tasty morsels fell to the floor.
I had a wonderful day. Thank you Edoardo and family and Simon for the inivitation. Meet Edoardo and his delightful Mum and wife.
I love your Villa and I would like to announce that I am available for adoption.
If you are thinking of gathering a large group of friends together for a holiday in Tuscany, this would be an excellent place to choose. Everything has been designed to make your stay memorable, the area is gorgeous and the Villa is only 40 minutes from Florence.
Go to www.tuscanynow.com for more fabulous Villas to rent in Italy.
What a great day you had! Must visit villa Petroio myself.
By: Francis on March 17, 2013
at 8:37 am
It is a gorgeous villa. It must be spectacular in the spring.
By: Debra Kolkka on March 17, 2013
at 12:41 pm
Your photographs are stunning. Thanks for this.
By: ranu802 on March 17, 2013
at 9:29 am
The villa will look even more lovely in a couple of weeks when spring finally arrives.
By: Debra Kolkka on March 17, 2013
at 12:42 pm
even the dogs are gorgeous, what a wonderful day and so much to take in. The house looks stunning, ciao lisa x
By: lisa | renovating italy on March 17, 2013
at 9:36 am
The dogs were lovely and very keen to make friends.
By: Debra Kolkka on March 17, 2013
at 12:43 pm
It looks wonderful and I love that door handle!
By: mulino dominillo on March 17, 2013
at 9:48 am
Isn’t is gorgeous, I want one!
By: Debra Kolkka on March 17, 2013
at 12:43 pm
as always your photographs fascinated me dear Debra, they are so beautiful… Thank you, love, nia
By: niasunset on March 17, 2013
at 10:00 am
Wouldn’t it be wonderful to stay at the villa for a month??? There is a huge swimming pool with amazing views all around.
By: Debra Kolkka on March 17, 2013
at 12:44 pm
Wow, what a fabulous place. Lucky you indeed and I’m so glad you had a snoop inside – I really would be quite happy to be part of the below stairs team in that kitchen. The musicians look like tremendous fun as well as being interesting.
By: Jan on March 17, 2013
at 11:31 am
I love the green tiles in the kitchen. The musicians would be great at any party.
By: Debra Kolkka on March 17, 2013
at 12:45 pm
What an exquisite setting and dreamy interior…. I love the idea of making a career of visiting beautiful villas in Italy…. And I’m delighted they had the good sense to invite you too! The post is irresistible!
By: janinevasta on March 17, 2013
at 12:19 pm
I would love to have a career visiting villas in Italy…what a good idea.
By: Debra Kolkka on March 17, 2013
at 12:46 pm
😉
By: janinevasta on March 18, 2013
at 10:49 pm
Can they adopt me too? 😉
By: Eagle-Eyed Editor on March 17, 2013
at 12:38 pm
I’m sure we would be very useful additions to the family.
By: Debra Kolkka on March 17, 2013
at 12:46 pm
It looks so beautiful! I think you have the best job on the planet 🙂
By: 23andunfunny on March 17, 2013
at 1:59 pm
I write my blog for fun, not profit. It would be perfect to do something you love and get paid too.
By: Debra Kolkka on March 17, 2013
at 3:32 pm
What a marvelous post, Debra! For a few moments, I was completely there, smelling the food, hearing the music, petting the dogs – ahhhh . . . . I also loved the doorway from the inside, with its arched top – wonderful detail.
By: composerinthegarden on March 17, 2013
at 2:32 pm
It is a beautiful villa. I feel very lucky to have spent the day there.
By: Debra Kolkka on March 17, 2013
at 3:33 pm
Gorgeous, I’d love to visit Italy one day.
By: Patricia Jordan on March 17, 2013
at 3:48 pm
Italy has more beautiful places per square inch that anywhere else in the world. You must visit.
By: Debra Kolkka on March 18, 2013
at 9:37 am
Thank you, I definitely will.
By: Patricia Jordan on March 19, 2013
at 1:38 am
Debra — your photos whet my appetite for another Italian adventure, Plan to go in late May or early June to visit that magical place. I plan on visiting
new places, smaller towns in the lake district.
By: jackandmarilynericksonack on March 17, 2013
at 4:23 pm
How lovely. May is a beautiful month to be in Italy, before the crowds arrive.
By: Debra Kolkka on March 18, 2013
at 9:38 am
What a fantastic day you must have had. The Villa was stunning and such beautiful surroundings. I am sure the lunch was Devine… Your photos were so good you wanted to jump into the picture and Enjoy!
By: Anonymous on March 17, 2013
at 6:05 pm
Sorry I didn’t leave my name Gill…
By: Gill on March 17, 2013
at 6:06 pm
It is a beautiful villa. I have grabbed some ideas for Vergemoli.
By: Debra Kolkka on March 18, 2013
at 9:39 am
Such a great post Debra. This is what we dream of when thinking of going to Italy
By: aussiegirl0905 on March 17, 2013
at 8:17 pm
It is exactly what we think of when we think of a Tuscan villa…absolutely heavenly.
By: Debra Kolkka on March 18, 2013
at 9:40 am
Bugga B’d Luca , I’m going here for my holiday !
By: Richard the terrible on March 17, 2013
at 10:39 pm
You would love it, but I’m not sure if it has a tennis court.
By: Debra Kolkka on March 18, 2013
at 9:40 am
It DOES have a tennis court!! I will be going there in July, with my family.
Ettie
By: Ettie on March 18, 2013
at 12:49 pm
What a fabulous time you will have! The villa is gorgeous and the owners are delightful.
By: Debra Kolkka on March 18, 2013
at 1:41 pm
Sounds and looks like a fun day. The villa is somewhere I could happily while away a week or two.
By: Just Add Attitude on March 17, 2013
at 10:59 pm
I could quite happily settle in the villa for a lovely long holiday.
By: Debra Kolkka on March 18, 2013
at 9:41 am
How beautifully you captured the day, Debra. These are the kinds of things that lure me back, as well.
By: Karen Overton on March 17, 2013
at 11:49 pm
The charming family made us all feel very welcome. It was a lovely day.
By: Debra Kolkka on March 18, 2013
at 9:42 am
The epitome of warm and cosy and Tuscan. Love the dog painting over the sofa and the colors in the kitchen!
By: The Daily Cure on March 18, 2013
at 7:09 am
I want that kitchen! I saw some tiles like that in Florence in a gorgeous design place and I wish I had a place for them.
By: Debra Kolkka on March 18, 2013
at 9:43 am
Do you remember the name of the store in Florence? I’d love to go dome time…yeah, that kitchen is happiness in brick and mortar. Pure bliss.
By: The Daily Cure on March 18, 2013
at 9:45 am
I don’t remember the name of the shop, but it is quite famous and is on the Palazzo Pitti side of the Arno and a 10 minute walk from the river.
By: Debra Kolkka on March 18, 2013
at 9:54 am
What a place and what a feast! Fabulous.
By: twoblackdoggies on March 18, 2013
at 7:17 am
It was lovely. I am so glad I was invited.
By: Debra Kolkka on March 18, 2013
at 9:44 am
Lovely details and mesmerising landscape. Makes me feel like some so
summer light!
By: Catherine on March 18, 2013
at 8:04 am
It is going to look even more gorgeous in a few weeks when it all turns green.
By: Debra Kolkka on March 18, 2013
at 9:44 am
I was invited to this also. Sorry that I didn’t go now. It was a goreous day on Saturday and what a great place it would have been to enjoy it.
By: Martha on March 18, 2013
at 9:39 am
I wish you had come. It would have been fun to meet.
By: Debra Kolkka on March 18, 2013
at 9:45 am
Wow … lucky you! A great day and great pics to share … and cheers to the food!!!
By: aFrankAngle on March 18, 2013
at 11:25 am
It was a lovely day at Villa di Petroio. I wish I could have shared the lunch with you.
By: Debra Kolkka on March 18, 2013
at 12:55 pm
🙂 …. and tell Marco at the restaurant close to you I said hello … well, he won’t remember me. … he had the one guy … right?
By: aFrankAngle on March 18, 2013
at 12:57 pm
I will say hello to Marco for you. He is not well right now and is due to spend a few days in hospital.
By: Debra Kolkka on March 18, 2013
at 1:42 pm
Oh no … strength to him!
By: aFrankAngle on March 18, 2013
at 1:44 pm
[…] Read more: Villa di Petroio, a beautiful house in Tuscany | Bagni di Lucca and … […]
By: Villa di Petroio, a beautiful house in Tuscany | Bagni di Lucca and … | Arounder on March 18, 2013
at 4:57 pm
What a wonderful day Debra! The food looks as fabulous as the house! Green with envy 🙂
By: Madhu on March 18, 2013
at 8:50 pm
Everything was fabulous. It would be a wonderful place to holiday with a group of friends.
By: Debra Kolkka on March 19, 2013
at 9:25 am
Good to see that blogging has a few perks!
By: Richard Tulloch on March 19, 2013
at 8:40 am
It was a lovely surprise to be asked along to this gorgeous villa. I would be most interested to see more of them.
By: Debra Kolkka on March 19, 2013
at 9:22 am
[…] Villa di Petroio, a beautiful house in Tuscany (bagnidilucca.wordpress.com) […]
By: Blogger day at Villa di Petroio (Rufina) | Girl in Florence on March 19, 2013
at 9:36 am
I think I’d be very happy there !!
By: jenny@atasteoftravel on March 19, 2013
at 1:18 pm
Me too.
By: Debra Kolkka on March 20, 2013
at 7:06 am
Beautiful!!!
By: thirdeyemom on March 19, 2013
at 6:34 pm
I would love to stay there for a while.
By: Debra Kolkka on March 20, 2013
at 7:07 am
Me too! 🙂
By: thirdeyemom on March 21, 2013
at 9:40 pm
I will be spending 2 glorious weeks here in July 2013 with our whole family. Summer can’t come quickly enough…
By: Anonymous on March 20, 2013
at 2:25 am
Lucky you. Have a great time.
By: Debra Kolkka on March 20, 2013
at 7:07 am
So envious what a fabulous day…. porcini risotto and tiramisu yes please, wish that was my lunch today!
What a lovely family and a memorable day for you Debra xx Carla
By: Carla Coulson on March 20, 2013
at 4:43 am
Lunch was delicious. The tiramisu really was the best I have tasted.
By: Debra Kolkka on March 20, 2013
at 7:08 am
There is nothing about this post that I am not jealous of! What a beautiful villa, looks like great company and I would eat everything off that table! Thanks, as always, for sharing great Italy tips!
By: ashleypaige4 on March 23, 2013
at 6:04 am
I am happy I was aksed to visit. The owners were particularly charming and the food was delicious.
By: Debra Kolkka on March 23, 2013
at 6:07 am
There are such a wide variety of wonderful villas in Tuscany Italy. Each has unique architecture and characteristics that are sure to please any eye. I was fortunate to be able to marvel at these magnificent structures last year when I visited for my graduate fellowship program. One of my favorites was the UNIESCO heritage site: Villa Medici Poggio a Caiano which was home to the famous Medici family, a powerful royal family during the European renaissance.
By: Dean Lewis on July 11, 2013
at 2:16 pm
I want that kitchen – Helen
By: Helen Close on August 4, 2013
at 5:43 am